Track system for wheeled carriages

ABSTRACT

A track system for wheeled carriages comprising a pair of track sections connected by an arcuate track portion and having a center track extending between the track sections and against which the wheels of a carriage ride. The center track is provided at an end with a pivotal portion so arranged as to swing pivotally on contact with the wheels of the carriage whereby the carriage will be caused to follow the arcuate track portion and will become transferred from one of the track sections to the other.

United States Patent Inventor Bjorn Stare Wiklund F lonvagen l9, Norrkoplng, Sweden Appl. No. 27,517 Filed Apr. 13, I970 Patented Sept. 1, 1971 Priority June 6, 1969 Sweden 8l06/69 TRACK SYSTEM ron wrmnwn CARRIAGES a cu Drawing Figs.

us. ct 104/35, 104/130 1111. c1 11610 13/00, B6lf 13/00, EOlb 26/00 Field olSeu-ch 104/35,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,060,865 10/ 1962 Potrowski 104/130 3,094,941 6/ 1963 Hellner 104/130 3,348,497 10/1967 Manson 104/130 3,543,686 12/1970 Fonden 104/130 Primary Examiner- Arthur L. La Point Assistant Examiner-D. W. Keen Anomey- Munson and Fiddler ABSTRACT: A track system for wheeled carriages comprising a pair of track sections connected by an arcuate track portion and having a center track extending between the track sections and against which the wheels of a carriage ride. The center track is provided at an end with a pivotal portion so arranged as to swing pivotally on contact with the wheels of the carriage whereby the carriage will be caused to follow the arcuate track portion and will become transferred from one of the track sections to the other.

PATENTEU SEP 7192! 7 a n w U m l D L IN VIdN'l'Ok.

BJORN s'rums WIKL-UND MUNSON & FIDDLE-2R Attorneys TRACK SYSTEM FOR WHEELED CARRIAGES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Track systems of this kind as hitherto known in this art are so constructed that it has only been possible to transfer a carriage from one track to another when the angle between the tracks is 90 or less. By means of the construction of the present invention it is possible to transfer a carriage from one track to another when the angle between the tracks is anywhere up to 180".

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a track system constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a wheel positioned between two rails, and

FIG. 3 shows in plan view an alternative embodiment of a track system constructed in accordance with the invention.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. I the carriage is moved through an angle of 180 from a track, which has an outer rail 1, to a track that extends parallel to rail 1 and having an outer rail 2. Between the outer rails l and 2 there is positioned a central or third rail which is common to both tracks and the width of which may be the same as the width of the outer rails or greater. The rails l and 2 are joined together by an arcuate rail 17; the center from which the arc can be considered to be drawn, being shown by the reference numeral 4. Connected to the intermediate or center rail 3 is a rail portion 5, which is longenough to support the rails 6, 7 located on one side of a carriage 6, shown diagrammatically in the drawing. The rail portion is journaled for rotation about a shaft whose center line coincides with the center point 4. The rail portion 5 turnable about its axis at the point 4 is provided on one or as shown in FIG. 1 both sides, with guide rails, 9, 10 which are so separated from the rail portion 5 that space is provided for guide rollers 12 of known construction associated with wheel '11 and situated beneath the carriage support wheels. With the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1, the carriage 8 may be driven by means of a chain 13. When transferring a carriage from one track to another, the carriage is moved to the position shown in FIG. 1, whereafter a catch device 14, which holds the rail portion 5 is alignment with the body of the rail 3, is released, so that when the carriage is moved again, the carriage is able to move around the arcuate rail 17 as the rail portion 5 is rotatively moved. In this manner, the carriage can be turned through an angle of 180 or less, as shown in FIG. 3.

Alternatively, some means may be provided for turning the rail portion 5, which makes it unnecessary to drive the carriage as the rail portion 5 is turned.

As shown in FIG. 3, the rail portion 5 and/or the arcuate rail 17a may be provided with a plate positioned over the support wheels 11, to prevent the carriage from tipping. Alternatively, the support rail may be provided with a flange, also positioned over the support wheels.

The catch device may be one of known construction and controlled, for example, by means of an electromagnet 6, which is so operative that the rail portion Sis not disconnected from the rail 3 until the two side wheels 6, 7 are against the rail portion 5. Furthermore, the width of the center rail may be such that the wheels of meeting carriages can easily pass one another.

With the embodiment of FIG. 1, it is not necessary to turn the rail portion 5 back to its starting position. Thus, it is possible, immediately after the 180 change, to move a new carriage onto the rail portion 5 while the switched carriage runs out on the rail 2 and the intermediate rail 3.

As will be seen from FIG. 3, the system is not required to make switches, but switches can be made selectively through any angle up to This is of great advantage, particularly with systems placed within buildings of irregular design. The reference numerals 16 in FIG. 3 indicate stationary uide rails.

hat IS claimed is:

1. An arrangement in track systems of the type in which two rails extend in juxtaposed relationship and in which the rails support wheeled carriages so that one side of the wheels on a carriage rolls on the rails and the wheels rotate about axles which extend generally at right angles to the plane of the track, one of said rails being connected to a rail portion which is large enough to support two wheels of the carriage along one side and which rail portion is swingable about a shaft positioned in the center of said rail portion, an opposing rail being in the form of an are curved along a circular line whose center point coincides with the axis of rotation of the rail portion, so that the direction of movement of the carriage can be turned through angles up to 180.

2. An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the carriage is transferred through 180 to a track parallel with the track from which the carriage arrives, the tracks being provided with a common center rail.

3. An arrangement according to claim 2, wherein the swingable rail portion on at least one side thereof is provided with guide rails which are arranged parallel with the rail portion and so spaced therefrom that space is obtained for guide rollers associated with support wheels and situated beneath such wheels.

4. An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the swingable rail portion is provided with means for swinging the same.

5. An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the carriage during the swinging movement is driven by means of a chain extending longitudinally along the tracks, and wherein the rail portion is turned by and with the carriage.

6. An arrangement according to claim 5, wherein there is mounted to the swingable rail portion a flange, which lies over the support wheels to prevent tipping of the carriage.

7. An arrangement according to claim 5 wherein there is mounted to the swingable rail portion a plate, said plate lying over the support wheels to prevent tipping of the carriage.

8. A track arrangement for a wheeled carriage comprising, a pair of outer tracks connected by an arcuate track portion, a central track located between the outer tracks, the central track having a pivotal portion adapted to move pivotally when contacted by the wheels of a carriage moving along one of the outer tracks to thereby enable the carriage to traverse the arcuate portion and to move from one of the outer tracks to the other. 

1. An arrangement in track systems of the type in which two rails extend in juxtaposed relationship and in which the rails support wheeled carriages so that one side of the wheels on a carriage rolls on the rails and the wheels rotate about axles which extend generally at right angles to the plane of the track, one of said rails being connected to a rail portion which is large enough to support two wheels of the carriage along one side and which rail portion is swingable about a shaft positioned in the center of said rail portion, an opposing rail being in the form of an arc curved along a circular line whose center point coincides with the axis of rotation of the rail portion, so that the direction of movement of the carriage can be turned through angles up to 180*.
 2. An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the carriage is transferred through 180* to a track parallel with the track from which the carriage arrives, the tracks being provided with a common center rail.
 3. An arrangement according to claim 2, wherein the swingable rail portion on at least one side thereof is provided with guide rails which are arranged parallel with the rail portion and so spaced therefrom that space is obtained for guide rollers associated with support wheels and situated beneath such wheels.
 4. An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the swingable rail portion is provided with means for swinging the same.
 5. An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the carriage during the swinging movement is driven by means of a chain extending longitudinally along the tracks, and wherein the rail portion is turned by and with the carriage.
 6. An arrangement according to claim 5, wherein there is mounted to the swingable rail portion a flange, which lies over the support wheels to prevent tipping of the carriage.
 7. An arrangement according to claim 5 wherein there is mounted to the swingable rail portion a plate, said plate lying over the support wheels to prevent tipping of the carriage.
 8. A track arrangement for a wheeled carriage comprising, a pair of outer tracks connected by an arcuate track portion, a central track located between the outer tracks, the central track having a pivotal portion adapted to move pivotally when contacted by the wheels of a carriage moving along one of the outer tracks to thereby enable the carriage to traverse the arcuate portion and to move from one of the outer tracks to the other. 